Alfred b



f UNITED i STATES ALFRED B. HOUSE, OE JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS.

. PATEN fr OFFICE TO JACOB B. GALLEN AND HORACE E: `MCFARLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

cAR-couPLiNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,205, datedSeptem'ber 4, 1883.

Application filed March 14, icas. (No model.)

.ToA aZ-Z wiz/m it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. B. HoUsE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Junction City, in the county of Davis and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in Automatic Car-Couplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact `description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in car-couplers, and has for its objectthe automatic coupling of cars and uncouplingthem from the top or either side when the train is in motion, or standing still, or going up or down grade, andto enable the engineer to uncouple from the train at any time without getting out of the engine, and to couple to any car without any assistance and without getting out ofthe engine. These objects are obtained by the `mechanism illustrated in the drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figurel `1s a side elevation of a freight-car with a part ofthe engine-tender in front. Fig.

2 shows the end of the car. Eig. 3 is a detailed view ofthe catch GW', taken from the top. Eig.

A 4 is a detailed view of the catch G", taken from one side. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the catch G and of the draw-head L, taken from the top.

Eig. 6 is a detailed view of the catch G", taken from one side. Fig. `7 is a detailed view ofthe draw-head L, and of bar N- and link O, in dotted lines, when the coupling is made to a car provided with the ordinary coupling-pin, Q,

rod D is extended back as far as 11h-and is oon` nectedby the link F to the catch GLWhich engages with a notch, g', in the shank of the y catch G.

L are draw-heads. A

G is a catch which engages with the catch G when the cars are coupled together. The catch G is provided with a vertical rod, C',

`by means of which it may be lifted and disengaged from the catch G.

H is a spring surrounding the shank of G, which acts to force it outwardly.

G are catches at each end of the car, and are connected to each other by a rod, M. They slide backward and forward in the draw-heads L, and are provided with the springs K, which act in opposite directions, and are intended to `keep the catches G at equal distances from the center ofthe car when not coupled. The shanks of the catches Gare slotted, as shown yin Fig. 5. The draw-heads L have alsoslots Z, which permit the catches G to slide back far enough to allow the catches G to drop into place and couple the cars together.

G are catches which are suspended by the vertical rods C, by which they may be raised from the top of the car by means of the levers C, or from the sides of the car by means `of the levers C, as shown in Fig. 2. The levers C'L are pivoted at their inner Vends to the vertical rods C, and have bearings at c and guides c.

N is a bar of iron ruiming under the draw= head proper, and extending back as far as necessary, with a slot in the center, to admit of its playing back and forth on the couplingpin P.

O is a link attached to the end of thebar N, and is made so as to pass on each side of the draw-head at a suflicient angle tolet it pass into and couple to the old style of draw-head, as shown in Eig. 7 in dotted lines.

i `P is a coupling-pin. l

The couplers are exactly alike on all the cars, with the exception of those on the engine, which are `the same in all respects except they have a double catch, g g', and the lever D and spring I-I, which is used for the purpose catch G. The spring H is for the purpose of forcing out the catch G, but can be closed up sufficiently to let the catch G pass back far enough to make the `coupling on the engine instead of the car. y The cars Vwhen coupled together are only far enough apart to admit of the sharp turning of a curve, (say about three inches apart,) thereby making it impossible for a person to fall\or to get between the cars, also thereby shorten- IOO ing upga train, and preventing the use of fuel in the engine to counteract the force and power of wind striking on the ends of the cars. There is also a saving in pins, which are not liable to breakage or loss.

Should one car jump the track while running, the succeeding car woulduncouple before the car jumping the track'would have sufficient power to pull it off the track also, thereby preventing risk of great loss, as only one car would be wrecked. As all the parts are simple, none are likely t0 get out ,of order. As the lower portion of the catch Gl is elongated for the purpose, it will admit of coupling cars having a difference of eight inches in height, and it can be regulated to give as much or as little slack as desired.

Having described my invention, what yI de-v sire to secure by Letters Patent and to claim is- 1. In a car-coupler, the rod C, lever D, link F, catch G, draw-bar G, having notches g g, and spiral spring H, in combination with drawheads L and catch G, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

scribed, and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination of vertical rods G, having levers G and side levers, (3*, and catches G, with coupling-bars G, having springs K and connecting-rod M, as shown and described, and for the' purposes set forth. f

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED B. HOUSE.l

Vitnesses:

JOHN S. CORYELL, A. L. BARNES. 

